Ohio Gov. John Kasich says he is not giving up his push for expansion of Medicaid as part of the proposed two-year state budget. Some groups have suggested putting the issue on the ballot so that Ohioans can decide whether to expand the health-care program for poor people.

“I would love to think that this could be done and the Legislature could do it and I haven’t given up on that at all. … But I am for whatever it takes toget this done because I think it is important for our state.

Ohio House Republicans dropped Medicaid expansion from the state’s two-year budget. It is now in the hands of the Senate, whose president, Republican Keith Faber, says Medicaid expansion is unlikely as part of that version of the budget, too.